Squirrel!!

You know that sight, sound, or feeling you get when you're walking along with your dog, having a perfectly good conversation and he bolts ~ he's got a bead on something important with the hopes of coming home with a prize..... well that's me and I say SQUIRREL a lot and bolt!    I'm all over the map of what I'm working on, what I'm doing, and what I'm feeling.  It's like a scary roller coaster ride over here..... DO Ya Wanna Go Faster!!!!! the carnival man says.

Here's a few of my SQUIRRELs!

Found this beautiful cedar lined Hope Chest at Goodwill for $10.00 ~ I couldn't leave it there!  I didn't need it! I had no where to put it!  Honey load it in the Truck! Gave it fresh paint job, moved some furniture around to accommodate it, (well I moved the other furniture in to junk room only to have to deal with it later).  All reason leaves me when I ferret out a good squirrel.

Then hubby trimmed the front Mesquite tree and what do I spy... a lovely branch in need of decoration.

Then on to watercolor painting again ..... enough of doing spiders.  It's been too long and I always have to start over, but I shall try and attempt to paint the truck on my header of this blog...

Then I think about my Son, who just moved away to Bellingham, Washington two weeks ago and all creativity leaves me momentarily... and I cry! 

Sometimes you can't keep your little Squirrels ~ These are the Squirrels that got away!

and I Cry.......

Arroyo Junker Beauties

If you hang out with me long enough you begin to realize (and it doesn't take very long) that I love JUNK, especially metal junk. The one project I work on whenever I travel is photographing old junked cars.  That was sort of the reason I started this blog ~ to showcase those junked cars and all my other JUNK that I resurrect.  That other JUNK I resurrect certainly gets more air time so today I'll share a few more of those rusted out, patina beautified ~ Arroyo Junkers.

Blacksmithed Hardware

Last summer I was invited to a blacksmithing class in NM GO HERE & HERE .  I don't think I ever talked about a few of the things I made.  Blacksmithing is awesome, however it is just to labor intensive for me and I'm not set up for what it takes to make it a lucrative business.  I did learn some easy techniques for making a few items that I could do later if needed.  I loved twisting rods and making them so much more interesting, like these hooks ~ they were the first thing I made.

Believe it or not, it takes awhile to learn just to make a pointed end on a square bar.  There is a lot of heating up to a red hot stage so pounding is easier.

After learning a few of these techniques we were off to make something on our own.  It took me all day, but I made a huge handle for a gate that someday I will make.  I was so happy to walk away with something that started out as a 1/4 inch square rod and turn it into a beautiful iron sculpture and an experience I will never forget, especially every time I open that gate or door this handle will go on. I love those memories that surround you of something special.

 My final piece was something I had seen our instructor make out of a piece of steel pipe ~ it was a hummingbird.  I could never have imagined that by pounding a piece of pipe in many different angles would produce the shape of a hummingbird, but sure enough it worked!  It was impressive to watch and amazing to see the transformation.  In order to do this you needed a power hammer, alot of heat and a continuous motion and attention to where the hammer was slammin' down.  I didn't get mine finished and will add the wings and shape the tail feathers at some point, but you can see the results.

I'll always treasure that month and remember that stepping out of your comfort zone always gains you insight.

Lace Wrapped Garden Rocks

Texture and Design

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It's everywhere

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It's what I surround myself with

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It's something I can never get enough of 

I saw a lovely idea where someone who could actually crochet did so over Rocks.  Well, I can't crochet but I loved the look it gave the rocks and it reminded me of the way I cut out steel.  As always I was drawn to the contrast of these delicate and hard surfaces, just like my shovel art.  

I had some old crocheted doilies laying around and what better way to use them than to wrap them around rocks.  The thrifts stores are loaded with them so they are always available.  I've got at least 20 more to make and then I'll place them in the garden ~ they'll make such a beautiful contrast amongst the flowers.

Did you know that the doilies make the most beautiful patterns when you spray paint over them onto something else.  I use them quite often in my Art.

Take something OLD and make it NEW again

Spider Webs

Luckily I have an order from a friend for some of my spider webs and I don't  have to be outside.  Sometimes it's just too flippin' hot here in AZ to possibly work outside.  Currently around 112 and 65% humidity. It's ugly and even uglier with a welding helmet and protective gear on.  So, I opt to stay indoors and create smaller items.  I've always loved spider webs, not so much real spiders, just the beauty of their webs, so I create these little webs to place in windows and on mirrors, up in a corner of a room or wherever else you may want them.  I'll be working on a REALLY big one for outside as soon as it cools off.  They are all over my house and sometimes I forget where they are and they'll catch the corner of my eye and I'll have a quick feeling of "What's That!", then relief.... Oh yeah, spiders.

 Some have crystals in them to catch the light

  They have glass beads with long legs

 and some are just the webs

HOLY MOTHER OF STORMS!!

We were headed out the door last night for our nightly walk and this was at the front door the HOLY MOTHER OF STORMS.   Looks like I'm gonna be cleaning up after this massive wall of dust tomorrow.  Our homes aren't built for high winds and this dust storm hit at almost 70 mph.

Textured Beauties

 Kim Klassen she has given me new hope for old photo's.  Check her out and do some wonderful tricks to your photo's.